Legislation & Public Policy Issues in PreservationDetailing past, current and future legislation in historic preservation and cultural resource preservation, as well as highlight past/current/future policy issues in preservation at the local, state and national levels.

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service announced today $2.6 million in maritime heritage grants to assist funding 34 preservation and education projects in 14 states and the Northern Mariana Islands. In...

Preservation Maryland is currently laying the groundwork to convene a workgroup of history, preservation, economic development, and tourism organizations to focus on public policy and funding sources to...

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Park Service announced $1.6 million in grants to fund preservation, restoration and education projects at several Japanese American confinement sites. The 14 grantees in...

WASHINGTON – President Donald J. Trump today proposed a $2.55 billion Fiscal Year 2018 budget for the National Park Service (NPS), including funding increases for top Trump Administration priorities like...

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres and Lt Governor Victor B. Hocog, through the Secretary of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs and the Historic Preservation Office (HPO) are soliciting sealed proposals...

"This is the Trust's twelfth annual Places in Peril list," said Mark C. McDonald, president and CEO of the Trust. "We hope the list will continue to bring preservation solutions to Georgia's imperiled...

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) wants to hear from you on the future of the national historic preservation program. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Historic...

Ottawa, May 30, 2016 – The National Trust for Canada is pleased to acknowledge $161,234 in new funding from the Government of Canada. With this funding, the National Trust will build Regeneration Works,...

Ottawa, February 23 – Responding to Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s pre-budget town hall, the National Trust for Canada is encouraging heritage supporters to promote its recommendations, designed to help...

Ottawa, ON, December 3, 2015 – The National Trust for Canada is launching REGENERATION, a new blog designed to share inspiring and provocative stories and ideas about saving and regenerating places that...

WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today highlighted key provisions included in the Obama Administration’s National Park Service centennial proposal and a draft bill from House...

WASHINGTON – The present meets the past to benefit the future. The National Park Service announced today the award of $427,000 in Preservation Technology and Training grants to fund innovative research,...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today applauded the decision by the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)...

Ottawa, ON April 21, 2015 – The National Trust for Canada is encouraged by the 2015 federal Budget’s recognition that history guides our future, reflected in new funding to renew and celebrate places that...

Ottawa, ON, January 14, 2015 – The Young Canada Works (YCW) program assists employers in the creation of jobs for students and recent graduates in such areas as historic research, heritage site interpretation,...

The Revitalize Main Street Act is set to be introduced this month in Oregon. This legislation would create a state Historic Rehabilitation Fund to help offset the costs of restoring historic commercial...

Today, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which contains more than 50 separate public lands provisions. This authorization marks the first National Parks legislation passed...

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service has awarded 21 preservation grants totaling more than $1.3 million to help preserve, protect, document and interpret America’s significant battlefield lands. The...

WASHINGTON – National park visitors contributed $26.5 billion to the nation’s economy and supported almost 240,000 jobs in 2013, according to a peer-reviewed report released today by National Park Service...

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service Director today announced $830,000 in grant money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to help preserve more than 48 acres of land from the November 23-25, 1863 Battle...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today marked National Park Week by announcing the designation of four new national...

Washington – The National Park Service and the American Architectural Foundation have announced a new partnership to promote Save America’s Treasures, a grant program that preserves nationally significant...

WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today awarded more than $33.8 million in grants from the Historic Preservation Fund to help states and territories preserve and protect our...

WASHINGTON – President Obama’s budget request for 2015 includes $2.6 billion for the critical conservation, preservation, and recreation mission of the National Park Service (NPS) as it approaches its...

Each year, PM staff travels to DC to meet with our congressional delegation, discuss historic preservation and urge their support if key federal programs. One of those programs, the Federal Historic...

WASHINGTON – Boosted by an additional 4 million visitors in 2012, national parks across the country continued to be important economic engines, generating $26.75 billion in economic activity and supporting...

Registration is now open for the 12th Annual Arizona Historic Preservation Conference which will take place at the Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico, June 11-13, 2014, emphasizing the theme “Economic Engines...

WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today awarded more than $13 million in historic preservation grants to help states and territories preserve and protect our nation’s historic...

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service today announced more than $65,000 in grants under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) to assist museums, Indian tribes and Native...

WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today announced more than $1.3 million in grants to help preserve and interpret the sites where more than 120,000 Japanese Americans – two-thirds...

The Oregon House of Representatives, following similar action by the Oregon Senate, has approved a six-year extension of the Oregon Cultural Trust's tax credit. The bill containing the extension now goes...

WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today announced more than $3.3 million in grants to help preserve more than 200 acres of land at five of America’s Civil War battlefields. The...

A statewide conference on tax credits for historic properties will be held on May 18, 2013 at the Plainfield Public Library. The event will be held from 9:30am-12:30pm followed by lunch and a walking tour....

WASHINGTON – National Park Service scientists and managers are taking a close look at the overall condition of the national parks in their care and have begun to report their findings in a series of State...

Washington – Strategies to strengthen the work of the National Park Service as it prepares for its centennial in 2016 are included in a report released today by the National Park System Advisory Board...

WASHINGTON – The President’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget requests $2.6 billion to support the critical conservation, preservation, and recreation mission of the National Park Service, the steward of the Nation’s...

NEW CASTLE, DE – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today joined Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis, local officials and community...

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Director of the National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today announced the designation of 13 new national historic landmarks, including...

NEW YORK, NY– Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service expects to reopen the Statue of Liberty to visitors by July 4, 2013, after repairing the extensive damage...

WASHINGTON, DC – National Parks continued to be important economic engines for local communities, with visitors generating $30.1 billion in economic activity and supporting 252,000 jobs nationwide in 2011,...

WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today announced the award of more than $1.8 million in grants to help with 310.79 acres of land acquisition at six Civil War battlefields. ...

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Director of the National Park Service Jonathan B. Jarvis today celebrated the establishment of America’s 59th national park with President Obama’s...

The Historic Preservation Office is working in coordination with Preservation New Jersey, the New Jersey Historic Trust, and others to learn what you think are the most important actions needed to preserve...

A new streamlined and consistent guide on the application of National Register Criteria for Evaluation of postwar residential housing was just released by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program....

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – At the historic Mission Concepción, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the Department of the Interior has officially authorized the San Antonio Franciscan...

Spokane Preservation Advocates (SPA) has nominated the historic Jensen-Byrd Building to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual list of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.” This...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the designation of 13 new National Historic Landmarks in nine different states, including a site associated with the famed Apache...

The New Jersey Historic Trust asks all property managers of public and nonprofit owned historic sites to complete a new Capital Needs Survey. The survey will provide needed information on the repair,...

Despite fierce lobbying from the real estate industry and a local coop board, the City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses voted today in favor of the designation of the Borough...

Below is a survey the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is using to gather information about the state of preservation in North Carolina. I wanted to bring it to your attention and urge you to...

Historic preservation funding for FY'12 was settled at the eleventh hour when Congress approved a year-end omnibus spending bill just before a temporary continuing resolution (CR) expired on December...

House and Senate Appropriators began formal conference negotiations this week on a final, year-end FY’12 omnibus spending package that will contain the nine remaining appropriations bills – including the...

Federal funding for historic preservation in FY'12 may be decided in the next two weeks, provided lawmakers do not extend a temporary continuing resolution (CR) into early next year. The FY’12 Interior...

The National Trust and the Guam Preservation Trust scored a major legal victory in November when U.S. Navy publicly announced its intent to consider alternative locations for firing ranges that were originally...

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is proud to announce that Mrs. Laura W. Bush—one of America’s outstanding leaders in the field of historic preservation—has agreed to serve on the National...

When you veer off into unknown territory you're likely to find the unexpected. That's exactly what occurred yesterday as I left the commotion of a busy Philadelphia street to explore a charming little...

SEATTLE, WA – As local governments across the country struggle to balance economic and environmental goals, a new agreement announced today creates a national model to do both. The City of Seattle, in...

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on a number of bills this week relating to historic preservation, including the Buffalo Soldiers in the...

Additional threats to Transportation Enhancements (TE) – the single largest source of federal funding for historic preservation -- emerged this week during Senate consideration of a FY’12 “mini-bus” spending...

School modernization and rehabilitation was on lawmakers’ minds this week as the Senate leadership announced its intentions this week to move elements of the President’s jobs act proposal – including a...

Lawmakers and committees of jurisdiction scrambled this week to assemble their individual and collective recommendations to the 12 members of the newly-created Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction,...

The House Natural Resources Committee held a markup of pending bills on Wednesday and approved HR 1505, the “National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act", which provides a blanket exemption for...

The damage to historic properties and downtown main streets from the devasting floods wrought by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee have spurred the preservation community to begin formulating a possible...

Congress adjourned for its August recess and House consideration of the Interior spending bill, which began last week, was put on hold as of last Thursday in order to resolve the debt-ceiling crisis. The...

On July 19, the National Park Service (NPS) held two meetings to get public comment on the potential national monument designation of historic Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA as an addition to the National...

The House began consideration of the FY'12 Interior Appropriations Bill (HR 2584) on Monday under an open rule with the expectation of debate lasting at least through the weekend. However, the collapse...

At the end of the session, the Ohio legislature passed and Governor John Kasich (R) signed a measure (Sub H.B. 153) that would make permanent the two year pilot tax credit program that provides 25% credit...

The July 6th appropriations subcommittee markup will also be the first salvo in a battle to preserve the Antiquities Act of 1906, the most powerful tool the President has in preserving threatened natural...

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar honored four government and tribal employees last week with the annual Secretary of the Interior Historic Preservation Awards, recognizing their...

Congress returned from its Easter Recess this week to begin what could be a months-long negotiation over raising the federal debt ceiling and hopefully forestall a major breakdown in the FY'12 appropriations...

Preservation funding in FY’11 remains uncertain as negotiations between the White House and the House leadership teetered on the brink of collapse this week in the attempt to find a level of spending...

The House passed a bill (HR 861) on Wednesday that would rescind $1 billion of funding under HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). NSP grantees can create “land banks” to assemble, temporarily...

Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) has ask the Texas Legislature to indefinitely suspend funding for four Texas agencies and consolidate the functions of dozens more as part of a sweeping budget plan that...

National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis today released a statement after Wal-Mart, Inc. abandoned plans for a Supercenter retail store on land that was part of the “Wilderness” in Virginia. Jarvis...

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), housed within the Department of Energy, sought comments from stakeholders regarding their draft guide on Implementing Solar PV Panels on Historic Buildings...

The New Jersey state assembly will consider a bill, the “Historic Property Reinvestment Act,” (A1851/S 659) on November 22nd that would create the state’s first-ever state rehabilitation tax credit. ...

Washington, DC --- River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe, Michigan, was officially announced as the 393rd park in the National Park System. The War of 1812 battlefield was set aside by Congress...

Congress adjourned for the mid-term election more than a week earlier than scheduled but not before passing a continuing resolution (CR) that will keep the federal government running through December...

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) introduced a bill (HR 5580) this week that would amend the Antiquities Act of 1906 and require Congress (within two years) to approve any presidential proclamations of national...

The chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has appointed a Task Force on Sustainability and Historic Preservation. This action reflects the priority placed on sustainability...

WASHINGTON, DC – National Park Service (NPS) Director Jonathan Jarvis has named Stephanie Smith Toothman, Ph.D., as the Service’s new Associate Director for Cultural Resources. Toothman will be responsible...

Governor Martin O'Malley signed House Bill 475, the Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 on May 20th. The legislation, a major piece of Governor O'Malley's Smart, Green and Growing Initiative, also provides...

President Obama has appointed Milford Wayne Donaldson as the new Chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Mr. Donaldson is currently the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) for...

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) introduced HR 4989, the “Federal Building Designs Standard Act of 2009,” on March 25th that would require that all federal agencies to consider the life-cycle costs during the...

The House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up and approved the House version of the HOME STAR bill (HR 5019) on April 15th which includes a storm window replacement rebate for historic buildings....

The House passed the “Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009” (HR 1612) with amendments on March 20th. The bill will “expand the authorization of the secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce and the Interior...

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment marked up its version of the HOME STAR retrofits bill on March 24th. The subcommittee approved the $6 billion bill which included...

The National Trust’s Center for State and Local Policy released its report on schools that describes steps that states and localities can take to encourage more community-centered schools —i.e., schools...

The National Trust is spearheading efforts to include an amendment to the Obama administration’s HOME STAR energy program that would provide a rebate for the purchase of storm windows for National Register-eligible...

The Senate passed a $137.9 billion tax extenders package on Wednesday which includes extensions of key tax credits important to historic preservation, including the New Markets Tax Credit, the expanded...

The National Trust is galvanizing its membership and preservation advocates across Illinois to support the creation of a state rehabilitation tax credit based on Missouri’s successful state rehab credit....

A Government Accounting Office (GAO) report released on February 23rd identified three major impediments to distribution of stimulus funding as identified by state, local, and federal agency officials...

A historic rehabilitation tax credit is among the key provisions of a “construction stimulus” bill that’s on the move in the Minnesota Senate. On Monday, the Senate Business Industry and Jobs Committee...

President Obama submitted his FY’11 budget request to Congress on February 1st and delivered a stunning blow to preservationists by slashing funding for some of the nation’s signature historic preservation...

The Senate began work on a draft $82 billion jobs stimulus bill this week which is being assembled by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Senator Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) and features four broad...

The Senate is expected to take up its version of a jobs stimulus bill sometime in the next four weeks leading up to the Presidents Day recess, which is scheduled for the week of February 12th. The Senate...

The continuing budget crises faced by State governments are continuing to wreak havoc on historic preservation programs and sites across the country. For example, both Iowa and Missouri could face legislative...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) and the National Park Service (NPS), jointly announced the awarding of $9.5 million in federal competitive Save...

The Senate Subcommittee National Parks held a hearing on a number of bills on December 3rd including S. 1838, a bill to establish a commission to direct the commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the...

Oct. 22, 2009 Portland, Oregon – The Historic Preservation League of Oregon (HPLO) has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Kinsman Foundation to update and expand its conservation easement program...

Following up on introduction of the “Community Restoration and Revitalization Act of 2009” (HR 3715/S. 1743) on October 1st, the National Trust has begun a major advocacy campaign to gain co-sponsors...

Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) introduced a revamped version of the “Community Restoration and Revitalization Act” (CRRA) that proposes to significantly expand the scope of the existing federal rehabilitation...

The next quarterly deadline for submitting applications to the Preserve America Stewards program is December 1, 2009. Preserve America Stewards is a federal program which recognizes organizations and...

The Interior Department released a report on Thursday which was commissioned by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and conducted by a panel of distinguished luminaries — including co-chairmen...

The Senate confirmed Jon Jarvis to be the next director of the National Park System by voice vote after Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) dropped his procedural hold on the nomination. Coburn had placed a hold...

On its second try, the House passed legislation Wednesday that would designate a national heritage area in Santa Cruz, Ariz. The bill (HR 324) passed 281-142 after returning to the floor under a closed...

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed a Secretarial order on Monday setting up a Climate Change Response Council and eight regional response centers to study and respond to issues such as rising sea...

An Olympic bus tour, symphony tickets for $20.16, free activities and discounts at the Art Institute, and events for the whole family are planned to help “Back the Bid” on Sunday, September 13. Three...

The Oregon Arts Commission announces $1,087,000 in 99 grants to Oregon arts organizations. The total FY2010 awards are distributed through the Commission's Operating Support, Arts Services, and Arts...

On July 22, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing to discuss a number of bills, including S. 715, the “National Lighthouse Stewardship Act...

The National Trust joined a coalition of organizations that sent a letter to all 162 members of the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus members in the House in support of HR 1831, a bill introduced...

The Senate Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held a hearing this week on a number of parks bills, including battlefield preservation bills (S. 1168/HR1694) and a bill preserving historic...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today praised President Obama’s announcement that he intends to nominate Jonathan Jarvis to be director of the National Park Service. Jarvis, a...

On Friday, May 29 the Ohio Senate made big budget cuts that once again targeted the Ohio Historical Society. More than $700,000 was eliminated from the Society's budget that serves teachers, students,...

The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a climate change bill (HR 2454) after a week-long markup that includes a 120 percent boost for incentives to retrofit historic structures listed in the...

The House Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies held its first set of hearings on the FY10 Interior Appropriations Bill this week, which included testimony from Interior Secretary...

Minnesota state legislators are currently considering a rehab tax credit to encourage private investment in the state’s older communities through rehabilitation of the state’s historic buildings. Originally...

At 10:00 am PDT on Tuesday April 28, 2009, National Trust President Richard Moe and Academy Award-winning actress, Diane Keaton announced the 2009 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places...

The National Trust is urging its Georgia membership and preservation advocates in the state to contact their Representatives and Senators in opposition to proposed budget cuts to the Historic Preservation...

The House passed the omnibus lands package bill (HR 146) with key authorizations for the Save America’s Treasures (SAT), Preserve America (PA) and the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) authorization...

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe signed a bill (HB1953) creating a historic rehabilitation tax credit program for the state. Capped at $4 million a year, the program offers a 25% credit for certified costs...

A “Dear Colleague” letter from Historic Preservation Caucus chairs Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Mike Turner (R-OH) has been circulated on the Hill requesting increased support for the Historic Preservation...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The President’s 2010 Budget includes $12 billion for the Department of the Interior to undertake initiatives to promote energy security with a focus on clean renewable sources and...

As part of his Smart, Green, and Growing Legislative Initiatives, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is calling for the extension of the historic preservation tax credit program and also proposes key...

The House passed an $816 billion economic stimulus package by a margin of 244-188 that did not include a single Republican member vote on January 28th. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R....

House appropriators began the task of moving forward on an $825 billion economic stimulus package this week that includes major spending for energy efficiency initiatives that could benefit older and...

NEW YORK HARBOR, NY—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today toured the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island to assess safety and accessibility issues at the national park sites in...

WASHINGTON – There are more national parks than you’ve heard of, and there is more to the National Park Service than parks. Want to find out the whole story? Check out the National Park Service 2008...

The “Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009” (S. 22) was introduced in the Senate this week which includes the authorization bills for the Save America’s Treasures (SAT) and Preserve America (S....

The 110th Congress will officially sine die adjourn on January 3rd after a stuttering lame duck session failed to pass either an auto industry bailout or even a limited stimulus package to address the...

In response to site selection announcements by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Louisiana State University (LSU) for their proposed new hospitals in New Orleans' Mid-City neighborhood,...

The National Trust joined a coalition of environmental and preservation groups in a lawsuit on December 18th that will temporarily prevent the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from issuing oil and gas...

The Los Angeles Conservancy needs your help in supporting the designation of Griffith Park as a City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM). Despite its unquestionable importance to Angelenos...

Don Klima, the Director of the Office of Federal Agency Programs at the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, has announced that he will be leaving the ACHP on January 2, 2009. He will be joining...

The House Rules Committee approved a draft continuing resolution (CR) on Tuesday that includes $22.9 billion in disaster relief and funding for the federal government through March 6th. The legislative...

Preservation advocates in Illinois have mobilized in response to a potentially devastating budget cut to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency that would impact the operation of several historic...

A draft rail safety amendment to an Amtrak reauthorization bill (HR 2095) has been negotiated this week that includes the compromise study language that the National Trust helped develop regarding the...

The Senate passed the tax extenders package (HR 6049) on Tuesday by a 92-3 vote with our provisions for extending the federal rehab and New Market tax credits for another year in the Gulf states affected...

The National Trust for Historic Preservation today commended Arlington National Cemetery, the Department of the Army, and the Department of Veterans Affairs for changing course and agreeing to conduct...

Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) unveiled a tax extenders package (S. 3335) late Thursday that also includes a $68.9 million disaster-relief title and a one-year patch to the Alternative...

On Thursday, July 24th, the House passed H.R. 3999, the “National Highway Bridge Construction Act of 2007” by a vote of 367-55. During floor consideration of the measure, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)...

The House passed the Housing/Mortgage relief bill (HR 3221) on July 23rd with three amendments to the federal rehabilitation tax credit included and President Bush rescinded his previous veto threat...

The Senate passed its version of the Housing/Mortgage relief bill (H.R. 3221) on July 11th with three amendments to the federal rehabilitation tax credit safely in tow. However, the expanded non-profit...

Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV) is moving forward on a second economic stimulus package that may include both tax incentives and grants for rehabilitating flood-ravaged historic...

On June 5, Colorado Governor Ritter signed HB 1033 which authorizes the Colorado state historic rehabilitation tax credit program for another 10 years. The new law also eliminates the annual resolution...

House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey (D-WI) has put a hold on all full committee markups of FY’09 appropriations bills until Republicans concede to follow the agreed-upon order for considering...

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced this week that a second supplemental bill/economic stimulus package — which could include disaster assistance funding for historic properties damaged...

The House passed the Preserve America (PA)/Save America’s Treasures authorization (SAT) bill (HR 3981) on July 7th. However, even with all of its tremendous success and support of these preservation...

The Senate began floor consideration of the housing relief package this week that contains three significant amendments to the federal rehabilitation tax credit, but failed to make any progress in the...

Preservation Architect and National Trust Sustainability Coalition member Jean Carroon, FAIA, delivered testimony on behalf of the National Trust at a June 18th hearing of the Senate Rules Committee,...

A major flare-up in full Appropriations Committee markup on Thursday between chairman David Obey (D-WI) and Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) over an energy amendment may have scuttled the appropriations process...

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources has completed its work on an omnibus public lands package that totals 93 bills, including S. 1139, a bill that would permanently authorize the National Landscape...

As part of a presentation that Tim Cannan, President of PreservationDirectory.com, gave at the Architectural Heritage Center's "Old House Fair", we are pleased to announce the availability of a free...

The National Trust and its preservation partners have being laying the groundwork for a possible disaster assistance package for the affected flood states in the Midwest — Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin,...

Today, the National Park Service announced the award of 32 grants totaling $1,367,144 to assist in the preservation and protection of America’s significant battlefield lands. With an increase in funding...

The National Trust and preservation advocates in Pennsylvania are pressing their state legislators and the governor to pass HB 221, a bill that would provide grant incentives to buyers and sellers of...

The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming held a hearing on June 18th and that focused on the role of smart growth in combating global warming and greenhouse gas emissions....

Last month, the preservation community in Los Angeles breathed a sigh of relief when a lawsuit filed by property rights advocates against the city to overturn Historic Preservation Overlay Zoning (HPOZ)...

On Wednesday, the House passed the Amtrak reauthorization bill (H.R. 6003) with an amendment directing a study to streamline federal historic preservation processes for federally-funded railroad projects....

The National Trust Center for State and Local Policy is offering a new grant and technical assistance to encourage community-centered schools. Concerned about the abandonment of older neighborhood schools...

The House Natural Resources Committee marked up and approved with amendments a bill (H.R. 3981) authorizing the Preserve America (PA) and Save America’s Treasures (SAT) programs on June 11th. The three...

On June 3, California voters defeated Proposition 98, a measure cloaked as eminent domain reform, but would have wiped out regulations intended to protect California’s heritage and environment. Specifically,...

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is proposing to eliminate the 8"- diameter traffic-signal indication in the United States by requiring a single "one-size-fits-all" traffic-signal lens size...

National Trust Assistant General Counsel, Betsy Merritt, testified on behalf of the National Trust on June 5th before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials in opposition...

As previously reported, the Ohio Department of Development capped the state's two-year pilot Historic Preservation Tax Credit at $120 million instead of the 100 projects mandated for FY 2008 by legislators....

This week, after a year and half of negotiations, the House and Senate passed a conference report for a $289 billion, 5 year Farm Bill. Although President Bush plans to veto the measure, both chambers...

On May 14th, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed HB 851 which strengthened the state’s rehabilitation tax credit. Through the leadership of Georgians for Preservation Action and the Georgia Trust for...

On Wednesday, May 14, actor and Enterprise Communities trustee Ed Norton, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and other experts in the field of green buildings appeared before Chairman Edward J. Markey...

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed a bill (H.R.5787) on May 8th to make it easier for federal agencies to dispose of excess property. Passed by unanimous voice vote, H.R. 5787...

The House Natural Resources Committee approved HR 3094, a bill to authorize new mandatory funding for national parks, but lawmakers are still trying to reach agreement on how to offset the added spending....

The House passed a major housing bill (H.R. 3221) on Thursday that incorporates a number of other housing proposals relating to the subprime housing fallout (H.R. 5820) as well as the Housing Assistance...

As reported last week, the state legislature is considering a ten-year extension of the Colorado state historic rehabilitation tax credit program set to expire in 2009 (HB 1033) with two amendments;...

When the Maryland Legislative session ended on April 27, preservationists had reason to thank Governor Martin O'Malley for his support of the preservation budget items. Preservation Maryland, who coordinates...

The House Financial Services Committee began its markup of a broader housing bill (H.R. 5830) this week that will also include the Housing Assistance Act (H.R. 5720), which contains three amendments...

Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett, along with Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Chairman John L Nau III, will announce Preserve America grants in 25 states on a teleconference on...

A coalition of more than 100 business, trade and advocacy groups today called on the U.S. Senate to pass bipartisan legislation as soon as possible that extends renewable energy and efficiency tax credits...

Working Effectively With Tribal Governments, a new online training course, is now available to provide federal workers with better understanding and greater knowledge of the intricacies and issues involved...

The President’s FY’09 federal budget included new tax expenditure estimates for both the historic and commercial rehabilitation tax credits, which previously had been estimated at $200 million and $30...

President Bush delivered a three-trillion dollar federal budget to Congress outlining the nation’s budget for fiscal year 2009 that provided FY’06 enacted funding levels for both State Historic Preservation...

In their January 24th meeting, the House Finance committee heard testimony from six advocates about the benefits of the historic preservation tax credit (HB08-1033). This legislation would extend the...

HB 5126, an amendment which allows insurance companies to claim historic preservation credits under the Michigan Business Tax, was filed in the Office of the Great Seal on December 28, 2007 and took...

After the first measure was vetoed by the President, the House and Senate passed a revised version of the 2008 Defense Authorization bill (HR 4986) that includes a provision providing for a study to...

Several individuals representing the National Park Trust, Friends of Happy Retreat (a Jefferson County, West Virginia, non-profit organization), and others have recently developed a proposal for a federal...

House Democrats are expected to meet the President’s terms on discretionary budget caps in an 11 bill omnibus (including Interior and historic preservation funding) to ensure completion of the appropriations...

After overcoming procedural obstacles, the Senate finally passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill on Friday, December 14th by a vote of 79-14. The National Trust is pleased that the measure includes...

This week, National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) Inspector General (IG) issued an audit report critical of how Presidential Libraries are inventorying and preserving the over 500,000...

The General Services Administration (GSA) will present its plan for redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths campus in Washington, D.C. for the construction of the Department of Homeland Security’s new headquarters...

For the last three years, Preservation Action polled its grassroots membership to get a sense of what were the most salient preservation issues on Capitol Hill. Roughly one quarter of respondents represented...

New York Governor Elliot Spitzer (D) endorsed the “Community Restoration and Revitalization Act of 2007”(HR 1043/S. 584) this week and his office sent a letter to House Ways and Means chairman, Rep....

A House-passed energy bill (HR 3221) may pose compliance problems for older and historic buildings if Congress enacts the bill with its current provisions for establishing a national model for updating...

On October 9th Jerome County Commissioners in Idaho voted to deny the Big Sky Farms application to locate a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) near the Minidoka National Monument. The proposed...

Representative Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) introduced bills in September that would authorize $100 million to be spent on the demolition of vacant housing over three years....

On October 10, the U.S. Department of Education announced that has begun accepting applications for new fiscal year (FY) 2008 Teaching American History Grants (TAH). The deadline for Notice of Intent...

George Mason University has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Education–valued at $7 million if fully funded over five years–to create a National History Education Clearinghouse. The...

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) proposed an amendment (SA 2995) to the Defense Authorization Bill (HR 1585) on September 20th calling for the Secretaries of the Army and Veterans Affairs to produce (no later...

The House Financial Services Committee approved a measure (HR 3524) that would reauthorize and overhaul the HOPE VI program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as make...

On September 18, the House Resources Committee’s National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee held a hearing on whether visitors to the Statue of Liberty should have access to the observation...

“The Statue of Liberty, like all national parks, should be open and welcoming for Americans to enjoy. Beyond security concerns, closure of the crown illustrates the chronic funding shortfalls facing...

“The removal of Everglades National Park from the World Heritage Site Endangered List seems to indicate that the historic River of Grass has been restored. Yet, as is underscored by the impacts of Florida’s...

The Senate passed the FY’08 Transportation-HUD appropriations bill (HR 3074) by a margin of 88-7 this week. Included in the bill was an amendment that would allocate an additional $1 billion in grants...

The House Ways and Means Committee held an all-day hearing on September 6th to hear testimony on a potential Democratic tax reform package that is expected to reach the House floor this year. Although...

On August 6th, the National Trust joined 113 rural development organizations in a letter to Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, expressing support for his proposed...

Historic preservation funding contained in the FY’08 Interior Appropriations Bill (HR 2643/S 1696) will subject to a major veto threat from the Bush administration of all 12 appropriations bills, which...

The House and Senate Subcommittees on National Parks held hearings on August 2nd on the National Parks Centennial Challenge Fund legislative proposals introduced this year. These proposals were introduced...

This week the House considered H.R. 2419, the “Farm, Nutrition, and Bio- Energy Act of 2007,” which included three major rural heritage provisions advocated by the National Trust. HR 2419 faced challenges...

Just prior to the July 4th recess, Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced a bill (HR 2947) that would establish energy performance standards for new federal or federally-supported buildings. The “Energy Efficient...

Historic preservation funding for fiscal year 2008 will remain subject to a brewing battle between Congress over overall discretionary spending limits and Iraq war funding come this fall. Although the...

On July 10, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco signed SB188 into law (Act No. 379). The new law will make New Markets Tax Credits easier to transfer, caps the entire program at $75 million, and places...

The National Trust and its preservation partners are continuing to work on broadening the coalition of organizations and agencies endorsing the Community Restoration and Revitalization Act of 2007 (HR...

The full House Appropriations Committee convened on June 6th and marked up the FY’08 Interior Appropriations Bill. The full Committee approved the subcommittee’s mark of last week, which included major...

National Trust president Richard Moe testified before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands on June 7th on HR 2016, a bill to make permanent the National Landscape Conservation...

On Wednesday, June 6th, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture favorably marked up the Rural Development title of the 2007 Farm Bill (HR 2419)...